Sometimes when parents are requesting a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and/or behavior intervention plan (BIP), the school may respond with the comment, "We are addressing your child's behavior through their IEP. An FBA and BIP are not needed."
In this edition of the Comments that Parents Hear blog posts, Chuck Noe, Education Specialist, addresses comments parents often face when trying to obtain social skills training for their child: “Your child does not have social skills deficits.” “We do not provide social skills training.” “We only provide social skills training for students with Autism.” […]
Recall the Law There is no definition or mention of these terms in IDEA regulations. It is generally accepted that “Accommodations are changes in how a student accesses information and demonstrates learning. Accommodations do not substantially change the instructional level, content, or performance criteria. The changes are made in order to provide a student with equal access to learning and equal opportunity to show what he or she knows and can do. Accommodations can include changes in the following: presentation and/or response format and procedures; instructional strategies; time/scheduling; environment; and equipment.” and “Modifications are changes in what a student is expected to [...]
Recall the law: Districts “must take steps, including the provision of supplementary aids and services determined appropriate and necessary by the child’s IEP Team, to provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities in the manner necessary to afford children with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation in those services and activities. (b) Nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities may include counseling services, athletics, transportation, health services, recreational activities, special interest groups or clubs sponsored by the public agency.” 300.107 […]
Recall the Law: Schools (a) “must take steps, including, the provision of supplementary aids and services determined appropriate and necessary by the child’s IEP Team, to provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities in the manner necessary to afford children with disabilities an equal opportunity for participation in those services and activities.” “(b) Nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities may include counseling services, athletics, transportation, health services, recreational activities, special interest groups or clubs sponsored by the public agency, referrals to agencies that provide assistance to individuals with disabilities, and employment of students, including both employment by the public agency and assistance [...]
If a parent, student or the school decides that the student will or should participate in nonacademic or extracurricular services and activities, the school must make plans that will allow the student to participate in these services and activities. As part of this process the IEP team must consider whether supplementary aids and services are “appropriate and necessary” to allow “an equal opportunity for participation”. If the student is provided aids, services or accommodations to allow them to participate in academic activities, then it would seem that these would probably be needed to allow “an equal opportunity for participation” in nonacademic [...]
